What is the Why?

I have started, grown and sold businesses, worked in corporate land and enjoyed the privilege of participating in the Saltire Fellowship. However, having gone through one of the worst experiences of my life in a little tech startup, I then embarked on a learning journey. Nine months in fact, to find out why startups were failing in Scotland and elsewhere and what could be done about it.

I had no income for nine months and had just taken a year out on the Saltire Fellowship. I’ve been where you are and times were tough. But, I knew in my heart and gut that things had to change for every entrepreneur. Too many people were feeding off them and the whole ecosystem was built around those who were supposed to support startups and not the startups themselves. In short, their WHY was wrong. The entrepreneur had to be at the centre and I had to ensure they were de-risked as much as possible.

Entrepreneurial Spark was crafted from nothing, but with the help of so many. However, our WHY has always been: “Why can’t we totally support entrepreneurs in a smarter, cheaper, more direct way to accelerate them faster and more safely with a great mindset?!”

What is your WHY?

It is this purpose that I and my team can never forget. That is our raison d’être and what drives us to work the hours we work and put in that extra 5 miles. What can be more satisfying than seeing you grow, bring in investment, hire, get smarter and give back to other entrepreneurs?

At times, it’s easy to lose sight of your WHY, I can admit I have too. It’s easy to get distracted. I’ve been lucky to have Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey on board.

Remembering the WHY is what grounds me. Let’s face it, if our WHY was wrong, the place would be empty. But, more and more people, organisations and initiatives want to work with us and help us grow. That is a great barometer.

What is your WHY? Remember it, follow it and you’ll enjoy your work and this amazing journey with your fellow Chiclets. Great things will happen for you. For us it’s been the fact that in under two years, we will go from 7 to a team of 40 all across the UK. There is a huge opportunity for us all to create something really special – with the entrepreneur at the centre.